food + travel adventures

Just a few more posts left before I wrap up my family’s European Adventures. In this post, I will share some of our pictures of the ruins of The Eternal City.

When one thinks of Rome, one of the first things that come to mind is the Colosseum, where gladiators fought to death for the entertainment of the crowd. I was looking forward to seeing the magnificent structure many months before our actual trip.

After months of planning, I finally saw the Colosseum. Another check on my bucketlist! As expected, there were a lot of tourists so it was challenging to take pictures with a few people in the background.

Dream come true! We also passed by other ruins on the way to the Colosseum. Rome is just beautiful!

Buongiorno! Here’s another post on the Eternal City, and this time we explore two more famous sights – the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. I was really looking forward to visiting both of these places, and I was quite disappointed that both of them were under restoration. Well, I just have to go back to Rome another time!

The Fontana di Trevi is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the considered by many as the most beautiful in the world. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome (TreviFountain.net). Even though the fountain was under restoration, there was still a place where tourists could throw in their coins. Of course, I didn’t pass up the chance to throw in a coin or two into the fountain. I want to go back to Rome and see the Fontana di Trevi!

We also visited the Spanish Steps, another must see place in Rome. It is also known as “Scalina Spagna,” and it has an irregular butterfly design consisting of 138 steps placed in a mix of curves, straight flights, vistas and terraces. They connect the lower Piazza di Spagna with the upper piazza Trinita dei Monti, with its beautiful twin tower church dominating the skyline. (Rome on a Segway)

We were also invited by my mom’s friend to eat at their place, and we happily obliged. They prepared a delicious and hearty Italian meal for us, serving us cheese, bread, fruits, pasta, roast beef, and wine. They also brought us to a nearby gelato place, and I think we had the best gelato here! We also stopped by Pontificio Collegio Filippino, where Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle celebrated mass, in line with the Filipino Independence Day. It was great to be with Filipinos, we had a taste of home after weeks of traveling.

Thank you to Tita Narcisa and her son Longines for the delicious lunch and for the warm welcome. Much thanks to Sister Pierette for accompanying us during our stay in Rome.

To read other posts on our European adventures, click on the following links:

One of my previous posts was about St. Peter’s Basilica, which is considered as the world’s largest church. St. Peter’s is a papal basilica, along with St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major. When we were in Rome, we got the chance to visit all four papal basilicas.

St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano)

We passed by St. John Lateran the most during our stay in Rome, because it was located near the place we were staying. Like the other churches we’ve visited, the facade of San Giovanni was beautiful. I also loved the statues of the apostles that lined the interior of the basilica.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. It is the oldest church of the Western World, founded in the 4th century by Constantine the Great. The basilica is dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist (Italy Magazine).

Officially named Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris (Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior), it is the oldest and ranks above all other churches in the Catholic Church, even above St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, and holds the title of ecumenical mother church among Catholics (About Roma).Near the basilica, you can find the Scala Sancta, or Holy Stairs: white marble steps encased in wooden ones, which, according to Catholic tradition, once led to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial during the events known as the Passion. (Italy Magazine)

St. Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori Le Mura)

Getting to St. Paul Outside the Walls needed more time and effort since it was quite far from the city center. However, when we arrived at the basilica, I realized that it was definitely worth it. Aside from the magnificent structure, it was much more peaceful compared to the other basilicas since there were fewer visitors.

San Paolo Fuori Le Mura is is located on the Via Ostiense, near the left bank of the Tiber river, 2 kilometers outside the Aurelian Walls. It is the second largest basilica of the four, after St. Peter’s Basilica (Italy Magazine)

St. Paul Outside the Walls was founded by the Roman emperor Constantine I over the burial place of St. Paul (now under the papal altar), making it a popular pilgrimage site (Italy Magazine).

St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)

Among the four papal basilicas, St. Mary Major is probably the one that we explored the least. However, we were still glad that we got the opportunity to visit it given our tight schedule.

Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary and one of the first to be built in her honor. It is the only basilica among these four to have preserved the Paleochristian structure of the 5th century, even though it underwent several makeovers and additions externally (Italy Magazine). The seventy-five meter bell tower – the tallest in Rome – was built in 1377, shortly after the popes returned from their exile in Avignon. The pyramidal spire was added much later, in the early sixteenth century (A View on Cities).

Again, thank you Sister Pierette for being our tour guide!

For more posts on our European adventures, click on the following links:

Buongiorno! Here’s another day exploring the Eternal City of Rome. This post focuses on Capitoline Hill and the nearby Piazza Venezia, considered as the central hub of the city .

According to A View on Cities, the Capitoline Hill is the smallest and most important of the seven hills of Ancient Rome. As the political and religious heart of Rome the hill became a symbol of Rome’s reign as Caput Mundi, capital of the world.

Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo, is bordered on three sides by buildings – Palazzo Senatorio (center, with the clock tower), Palazzo dei Conservatori (right) and Palazzo Nuovo (left).

Palazzo Senatorio, the city hall of RomeCordonata

The piazza can be reached from the foot of the hill by ascending the majestic Cordonata (Italian for ‘graded ramp’) stairs.

Next is Il Vittoriano (Victor Emmanuel II Monument). The magnificent monument dominates the square and is dedicated to the first king of Italy. It is also called Altare della Patria, meaning altar of the fatherland.

St. Peter’s Basilica is a major basilica in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. St. Peter’s was until recently the largest church ever built and it remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. Contrary to what one might reasonably assume, St. Peter’s is not a cathedral – that honor in Rome goes to St. John Lateran.

Inside the basilica, one can see Michelangelo’s great dome and Bernini’s Baldacchino directly below it. This monumental canopy shelters the papal altar and the holy relics of St. Peter. Click here to read more about the different areas found inside the basilica.

St. Peter’s Basilica stands on the traditional site where Peter – the apostle who is considered the first pope – was crucified and buried. St. Peter’s tomb is under the main altar and many other popes are buried in the basilica as well. Originally founded by Constantine in 324, St. Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in the 16th century by Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini. (Sacred Destinations)

Directly in front of the basilica is St. Peter’s Square.

According to the Vatican City State website:

Designed and built by Bernini between 1656 and 1667, during the pontificate of Alexander VII (1655-1667), the square is made up of two different areas. The first has a trapezoid shape, marked off by two straight closed and convergent arms on each side of the church square. The second area is elliptical and is surrounded by the two hemicycles of a four-row colonnade, because, as Bernini said, “considering that Saint Peter’s is almost the matrix of all the churches, its portico had to give an open-armed, maternal welcome to all Catholics, confirming their faith; to heretics, reconciling them with the Church; and to the infidels, enlightening them about the true faith.”

We also passed by Ponte Sant’Angelo and Castel Sant’Angelo (Hadrian’s Mausoleum).

Again, thank you to Tita Christine, Tita Anabella, Sister Pierette and Sister Bel for touring us around Rome.

Buongiorno! The last stop of our Mediterranean cruise is none other than the Eternal City – Rome. After disembarkation, we wasted no time and immediately started the day touring the city. First stop – the Vatican Museums.

We spent hours lining up to get inside, but we braved the heat and fatigue. When we walked through the galleries and saw the amazing pieces of art, we knew it was definitely worth the wait. Sculptures, paintings, tapestry, architecture and other art forms were found in every corner.

Overwhelming is one word I could use to describe my experience walking through the different galleries. The ceilings were my favorite part because I’ve never seen them so ornately designed!

Of course, the highlight of our visit would be the Sistine Chapel. The place was packed with people who were all looking up to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The moment I walked inside until I exited, I was also looking up! It was grander than I could have ever imagined.

Picture taking is not allowed inside the Sistine Chapel so here are some photos from the internet.

While walking through the compound, we also had a photo with the famous dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the background. After exiting the Vatican Museums, we headed straight to St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square (more on that on my next post).

Huge thanks to Sister Pierette and Tita Anabella for fetching us at the Port of Civitavecchia and for touring us around. Thank you also to Sister Bel and Tita Christine!

Before I continue with our last destination (Civitavecchia for Rome) on this cruise, I’d like to share some of our photos aboard the ship. It was my first time to experience a cruise, and it really exceeded my expectations!

If it weren’t for the sights awaiting at each destination, I could’ve stayed aboard the ship for a whole week and not get bored. There are multiple swimming pools, lounges, spa, sports facilities (table tennis, basketball, golf), a theater with live production shows, movie nights (with free popcorn) and other activities onboard.

Oh, and did I mention the food? The food is divine! Aside from the reserved seats for dinner wherein we were served every night, the buffet is available all-throughout the day, there are restaurants and counters around the ship offering pizza, ice cream, burgers, hotdogs, etc, and 24-hour room service too!

These are just some of the many plates we devoured during our week-long cruise. The food presentation is amazing!

Another amazing thing about being on a cruise was the view. Aside from the calming blue waters of the ocean, we also got the chance to see different ports and cities. We also witnessed beautiful sunsets.

I really enjoyed my first time (and hopefully not the last!) aboard a cruise ship. It was like a dream, everything was perfect! Of course, what made the experience special and so much more memorable was the company of my family. I had so much fun bonding with them! I’d love to cruise in Glacier Bay, Alaska or North Sea, Europe next time. For now, I’ll just have to relive my memories of cruising in the Mediterranean.

To read other posts on our European adventures, click on the following links:

Hello! This post is all about Palermo, the last day trip we have before we get off at our final destination (Civitavecchia).

Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily, located in the southern part of Italy. We only had half day to get around the city, so we weren’t able to see many sights.

For millennia at the crossroads of civilisations, Palermo delivers a heady, heavily spiced mix of Byzantine mosaics, Arabesque domes and frescoed cupolas. This is a city at the edge of Europe and at the centre of the ancient world, a place where souk-like markets rub against baroque churches, where date palms frame Gothic palaces and where the blue-eyed and fair have bronze-skinned cousins.

Here are some photos:

Cattedrale di MonrealeCattedrale di Monreale

Palermo’s cathedral presents to the visitor a diversity and mixture of architectural styles unique in the world for a church of this strikingly vast scale: Arab, Norman,Byzantine, Swabian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. It’s all here, in one grand, inspiring setting, complete with soaring medieval spires. This is the world’s most eclectic ecclesiastical architecture.

The highlight of our day trip was definitely the Palermo Cathedral. It was a massive structure and needless to say, I was in awe.

Our cruise continues and our next stop is an island located at the center of the Mediterranean Sea – Malta. Malta can either refer to the country (an archipelago composed of three islands), or its largest island.

When we saw Malta on the list of stops on our Mediterranean cruise, we were initially unsure if we would go on a day of sightseeing or just spend the day on board. Upon the recommendation of the crew (predominantly Filipino), we decided to explore the island of Malta.

Here are a few photos from our day trip in Malta:

St. Paul’s CathedralGrand Master’s PalaceRepublic Square

St. John’s Co-CathedralUpper Barrakka Gardens

Fun fact: Parts of the first season of Game of Thrones were filmed in Malta, and we were able to visit one of the shooting locations (I was unaware during the trip).

We only had a short amount of time in Malta, but we tried to make the most out of it. It was definitely better than spending the day on board!

Buongiorno! Our European adventure along the Mediterranean coast continues and the next stop is Tuscany, a region in the central part of Italy. Our ship docked at the Port of Livorno, and our day trip included the cities Pisa and Florence.

Upon arriving at Pisa, the weather was quite gloomy and we were quite scared that it might ruin our day trip. Thankfully, we only experienced light rain in some parts of the day. Of course, our trip to Pisa was all about the Leaning Tower. It is actually the bell tower of the cathedral, which are both located at the Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli).

After our short visit to Pisa, we proceeded to our next stop – Florence. The travel time was around 1 1/2 to 2 hours so we grabbed the chance to get some rest and be ready for an afternoon of walking.

Our first stop was Santa Croce Church (Basilica of Santa Croce), the resting place of icons such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo Galilei. A Monument to Dante also stands in front the church.

The next stop on our Florence walking tour was the Piazza della Signoria. It can be considered as an open-air gallery, with numerous sculptures displayed, such as David (the original is in the Galleria dell’Accademia) by Michelangelo, Hercules and Cacus (1534) by Bandinelli, and Nettuno (1575) by Ammannati.

The Piazza della Signoria has been the center of political life in Florence since the 14th century with the prominent Palazzo Vecchio overlooking the square.

After an Italian lunch, we continued our walking tour and had some time to marvel at the beautiful Duomo. The Piazza del Duomo was bustling with people when we were there, and numerous souvenir shops, gelato stands, cafes and restaurants lined the surrounding streets.

Our last stop for the day was Galleria dell’ Accademia, where we lined up for quite a few hours to see the original David sculpture by Michelangelo.

Aside from the sculpture of David, which is probably the most famous sculpture in the world, we also got to see more sculptures and paintings by different Italian artists.